Read: 1 Peter 5:5-11

The devil walks about like
a roaring lion… Resist
him, steadfast in the faith.
-1 Peter 5:8-9

Pastor Dale Kurtz laughed so hard that his sides
ached. He was watching a frustrated squirrel trying to
climb the metal pole supporting a bird feeder. The
squirrel repeatedly got part way up, then slowly slid
down the pole in a heap. In describing this incident,
Kurtz wrote, “What the squirrel didn’t know, was that I
had greased the pole!”

Kurtz then pointed out that “greasing the pole” is one
of Satan’s tactics to hinder Christians in their
spiritual climb. The “grease” he often uses is our own
pride, complacency, and self-sufficiency. How he must
laugh!

In today’s Bible reading, Peter listed four things
that will help us continue in our spiritual climb and
not slide back:

1. Submitting to one another (1 Pet. 5-5).

2. Humbling ourselves before Almighty God (v.6).

3. Casting all our care on our caring Lord (v.7).

4. Disciplining ourselves and being watchful (v.8).

These four actions and attitudes enable us to resist
Satan’s attacks (v.9) and allow God’s grace to
strengthen us and cause us to be established in our
faith (v.10).

Satan wants to keep us from making progress in our
spiritual life. With the Lord’s help, though, we can
keep on climbing.
-Joanie E. Yoder

Onward and upward your course plan today,
Seeking new heights as you walk Jesus’ way;
Heed not past failures, but strive for the prize,
Aiming for goals fit for His holy eyes. -Brandt

TO AVOID SIN’S TRAGEDY,
LEARN SATAN’S STRATEGY.

OUR DAILY BREAD, Copyright 1998 by Radio Bible Class,
Grand Rapids,Michigan. Used by permission.